Playoffs at a glance

December 24, 1990

Nine of the 12 playoff berths have been clinched, leaving two NFC teams to fight for one wild-card spot and four AFC teams to fight for the final two spots. Fifteen of the 28 teams are still alive going into the final weekend of action. Here are the teams and their remaining games:

NFC

Clinched division titles

San Francisco 49ers (13-2, first-round bye), at Minnesota

New York Giants (12-3, first-round bye), at New England

Chicago Bears (11-4), Kansas City

, Clinched wild-card spots

Philadelphia Eagles (9-6), at Phoenix

Washington Redskins (9-6), Buffalo

' Control own destiny for third wild-card spot

Dallas Cowboys (7-8), at Atlanta

Still alive but need help

New Orleans Saints (7-8), L.A. Rams

AFC

Clinched division titles

Buffalo Bills (13-2, first-round bye), at Washington

Clinched playoff spots

L.A. Raiders (11-4), San Diego

Miami Dolphins (11-4), Indianapolis

Kansas City (10-5), at Chicago

' Control own destiny for division title

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6), at Houston

L. A. Raiders

- Still alive but need help

Cincinnati Bengals (8-7), Cleveland

Houston Oilers (8-7), Cincinnati, Pittsburgh

Seattle Seahawks (8-7), Detroit

Tie-breakers

Division

If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical best won-lost-tied percentage, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined. The same steps are used to determine the sites of postseason games.

Two teams 1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).

2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.

3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.

4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, if applicable.

5. Best net points in division games.

6. Best net points in all games.

7. Strength of schedule.

8. Best net touchdowns in all games.

9. Coin toss.

' Three or more teams 1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).

2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.

3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.

4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.

5. Best net points in division games.

6. Best net points in all games.

7. Strength of schedule.

8. Best net touchdowns in all games.

9. Coin toss.

NOTE: If two clubs remain tied after a third club is eliminated during any step, the tie-breaker reverts to Step 1 of the two-club format.

9 Wild card

necessary to break ties to determine the two wild-card clubs from each conference and the site of their playoff game, the following steps will be taken:

Two teams 1. If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie-breaker.

2. If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps:

1. Head-to-head, if applicable.

2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.

3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.

4. Best average net points in conference games.

5. Best net points in all games.

6. Strength of schedule.

7. Best net touchdowns in all games.

8. Coin toss.

' Three or more teams 1. Head-to-head sweep (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others, or if one club has lost to each of the others).

2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.

3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.

4. Best average net points in conference games.

5. Best net points in all games.

6. Strength of schedule.

7. Best net touchdowns in all games.

8. Coin toss.

Playoff format

* First round (Jan. 5-6) Three wild-card teams from each conference and the division champion with the worst record in each conference will play first-round games. The division champion will be at home against the wild-card team with the worst record. The wild-card team with the best record plays host to the other wild-card team. There are no restrictions on intra-division games (an NFC East team can play an NFC East team).

- Second round (Jan. 12-13) The two division champions with the best records in each conference will play at home against the first-round winners. The division champion with the best record will play the wild-card survivor with the poorest record. There are no restrictions on intra-division games.

, Conference championships (Jan. 20) The surviving team with the best record will be at home. A wild-card team cannot play host to the game, unless both teams are wild cards.